Deneisha Johnson

Chair

As a child I was personally impacted by mental health issues and, as a result, I have a strong passion for this area as an adult.  After discussing the role I wanted to play within the Tulsa community with Wendy Thomas at Leadership Tulsa (LT), I was introduced to Counseling and Recovery Services of Oklahoma (CRSOK).  As a member of LT Class 62 in 2019, I began with CRSOK as a board intern, then became  Vice Chair, and I am now the Chair of the Board, as well as the current chair of the Public Relations & Resource Development committee.  There has long since been a negative stigma surrounding mental health in the Black community and more strongly amongst Black women.  I want to be part of the solution that normalizes assistance for healthy living and stability. 

I am originally from Fort Worth, TX and moved to Oklahoma to attend Langston University where I received my Bachelors degree in Accounting and Finance.  I received my MBA from Northeastern State University and have 20+ years of focus in corporate finance. In addition to CRSOK, I have served in a volunteer capacity for the Child Abuse Network (CAN), Domestic Violence Intervention Services (DVIS), and Resonance.

Personally, I love to travel.  I have visited 13 countries and am looking forward to visiting my 6th continent soon.

Jonathan Wish

Chair/Stanfield & O’Dell

I’ve recently come to a realization about myself that the people I hold with the highest respect are those who inspire me to be a better person. Business success, incredible athletic ability, or a sharp mind are great, but the ability to have compassion for people is the most important quality I see in people.

With that said, the work done at Counseling & Recovery Services had a tremendous appeal to me. I actually had no intention of joining a board at the time, but when I approached Executive Director Bryan Blankenship about volunteer opportunities, a position was open, and I joined in December 2016, and I am thrilled to be a part of the organization and help out in whatever ways I can.

I am an audit supervisor for Stanfield & O’Dell. I’ve been with the firm for six years, and previously worked briefly for the State Auditor. I work with all types of clients, from businesses to governments to Christian ministries, but I most enjoy working in the nonprofit sector. As someone who is not native to Tulsa, I am blown away by the amount of support the community has for these organizations.

Along with serving on the Counseling & Recovery Services Board of Directors’ Finance and Community Relations and Resource Development committees, I have also served on the Young Professionals Board for Emergency Infant Services, where we developed a new annual fundraising event and manage the City Wide Baby Shower. This summer, I am also currently planning a new fundraising event involving a 5K run.

I lived in Arkansas from birth until graduating from the University of Arkansas, and I have been in the Tulsa area ever since. I’ve been married seven years. My wife is a yoga instructor and teaches several places around town. I stay involved in fitness through strength training, yoga, and sports when I can.

For the past two years, I’ve been a part of the Hex House cast, where I play a butcher. My wife and I went to an audition almost as a joke, and since then many of the cast members are almost family to us. Taking a job scaring people until well after midnight was not something I expected to do in my 30s, but October has become one of the busiest and most fun months of the year.